Hydraulic rod upsetting machine



1956 F. H. BRANDT HYDRAULIC ROD UPSETTING MACHINE 5 Sheecs-Shene'c 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1952 JNVENTOR. Fred H. Brandt BY ATTORNEY;

1956 F. H. BRANDT HYDRAULIC ROD UPSETTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1952 INVENTOR. Fred H. Brondf. WM

ATTORNEYS,

Aug. 21, 1956 F. H. BRANDT HYDRAULIC, ROD UPSETTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 5, 1952 INVENTOR. Fred H. Brandt BY WWW ATTORNE vs.

United States Patent HYDRAULIC ROD UPSETTING MACHINE Fred H. Brandt, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Prestressing, Incorporated, San Antonio, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application December 5, 1952, Serial No. 324,363

8 Claims. (Cl. 78-17) This invention relates to a machine for producing nodes or upsets in Wires or rods of the type used in prestressed reinforcement of concrete structures.

For example, such reinforcements must be provided with means by which they may be gripped to pull tension therein and to anchor the ends of the tensioned rods relatively to the concrete structure. It has been proposed to provide such rods or wires with nodes or upsets; but due to the hardness of the metal and the exceptionally high yield point required in such reinforcing, special equipment is needed to efiect such upsets without altering the physical characteristics of the rods or wires.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a machine for forming upsets or nodes in high carbon rods or Wires without otherwise deforming or altering the physical characteristics thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide the machine with gripping jaws and jaw actuating mechanisms by which the rods or wires are clamped with a pressure greater than the pressure required in producing the nodes or upsets, to avoid any slippage that might result in the rods or wires.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a machine for making one or more upsets or nodes in the ends of the Wires or rods as the case may require, to provide a machine which quickly and accurately produces the upsets or nodes exactly at the desired points and which results in rods or wires of an exact length.

In accomplishing these and other objects in the invention hereinafter pointed out, I have provided an improved structure and method, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention and which is adapted for producing one or more upsets or nodes on reinforcing rods or wires.

Fig. 2 is a partial elevation and longitudinal section through the machine, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing a wire or rod in position to be provided with upsets or nodes.

Fig. 3 is a detail cross section through the lateral guide rods of the machine particularly illustrating the cross head and ram carried thereby.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the die block arms at one side of the machine particularly illustrating the spring and studs for returning the ram die block to normal position after the machine has been actuated to form the upsets or nodes in the rod or wire.

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the machine on the line 55 of Fig. 1 showing the dies in one of the die blocks with the operating toggle supporting the movable die in the position to insert the rod or wire between the dies.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section of the structure on the line 6-6 of Fig. .2 but showing the dies moved into position for clamping the rod or wire. a

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the fixed and movable 2 dies and parts of the toggle shown in spaced relation to better illustrate the construction thereof.

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are views of the ends of reinforcing rods or wires provided with upsets or nodes that are formed by the machine as illustrated and hereafter described.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention and which includes spaced end blocks or pillars 2 and 3 attached to a base 4 whereon the members 2 and 3 are secured. The blocks or pillars 2 and 3 are of substantially the same construction, each including a central body portion 5 having laterally extending side arms 6, 7, a head 8, and a foot plate 9 by which the members 2 and 3 are secured to the base 4 by fastening devices such as bolts 10. The arms 6, 7, and head 8 have bores 11, 12, and 13, respectively which ex tend horizontally therethrough in the longitudinal direction of the machine. Mounted in the bores of the members 2 and 3 are the ends 14 of guide rods 15, 16, and 17. The ends 14 of the guide rods are of smaller diameter than the body portions 18 of the rods to provide stop shoulders 19 thereon that abut internal shoulders 20 provided in facing ends of the bores 11, 12, and 13. The ends 14 of the tie rods extend through the opposite ends of the bores and are externally threaded as at 21 for mounting the nuts 22 by which the shoulders 19 are drawn in to seating engagement with the shoulders 20 to maintain spacing of the members 2 and 3 and to provide a rigid frame composed of the ends members 2 and 3 and guide or tie rods 15, 16, and 17, for mounting the operating mechanisms of the machine as later described.

The body portion of the end member 3 has a vertical open front recess 23 on the side thereof facing the opposite end member 2. The recess 23 has side faces 24 and 25 constituting vertical guides and upper and lower end faces 26 and 27 constituting seats for a fixed toggle seating plate 28 and a fixed die block 29 respectively. The die block 29 fits snugly within the bottom of the recess with ends 30 and 31 engaging the side faces 24 and 25 of the recess and is clamped to the face 27 by fastening devices such as cap screw 32 that extend through suitable openings in the base of the body portion and into threaded sockets 33 of the die (see Fig.6).

The upper face 34 of the die is substantially flat and has a longitudinal groove 35 therein of a cross section corresponding to that of the rods or wires to be upset in forming the nodes as later described.

Cooperating with the fixed die 29 is a movable die 36 having side faces 37 and 38 adapted for sliding engagement with the guide faces 24 and 25 of the recess 23. The dies 29 and 36 have corresponding ends 39 and 40. The end faces 40 seat against the bottom face 41 of the recess 23 to support the dies against thrusts of a ram and ram dies to be later described. The movable die also has a longitudinal groove 43 which registers with the groove of the fixed die for receiving the rods or wires which are projected into an opening 45 in the frame member 3 as to be hereinafter described.

Slidably carried by the guide rods 15, 16, and 17 is a ram block 46 which includes a rectangular body portion 47 corresponding to the body portion of the end member 3 and which has laterally extending arms 48 and 49 corresponding with the arms 6 and 7. The ends of the arms have sleeve-like bearings 50 and 51 which cooperate with 52 slidably mounting the body portion 47 on the guide rods 15, 16, and 17. The sleeve-like bearings are provided at the ends thereof with internal bushings 53 and 54- that slide on the guide rods as shown in Fig. 2. The bushings are spaced apart to provide a lubricant chamber 55 supplied with lubricant from a pressure fitting 56. The ends of the bushings are closed by packings 57 which are retained by caps 58. -The body portion of the die block has a rectangular opening 59 corresponding to the recess 23, the side faces 60 and 61 of which provide guides for a movable die 62 and supports for a complementary fixed die 63 which corresponds with the movable and fixed dies previously described, the fixed die 61 being secured in position by cap screws 32.

The respective facing ends of the dies of the fixed and ram blocks have projecting semicircular bosses 64 and 65 and the opposite end of the ram blocks have similar bosses 66.

The ram block is normally retained in spaced relation with respect to the end member 3 by coil springs 67 and 67', sleeved over pins or studs 68 and 69 having threaded ends 70 engaged in threaded openings 71 of the arms 49 and 50 of the movable block. The opposite ends of the pins extend slidably through openings 72 of the arms 6 and 7 of the member 3 and are provided with jam nuts 73 that are threaded thereon to engage bosses 74 on the arms of the fixed member as best shown in Fig. 4. The springs 67 and 67 are substantially housed within recesses 75 that are formed within the arms of the fixed member as shown in Fig. 4.

The ends of the springs bear against the arms of the ram block and against the bottoms 76 of the recesses for normally retaining the proper spacing between the fixed frame member 3 and the ram block, the spacing being adjustable by manipulation of the jam nuts 73 on the threaded ends of the pins 68 and 69.

The movable dies are adapted to be moved to and from clamping relation with the fixed dies of the respective pairs with sufiicient pressure to grip and support the rod or wire without slippage. Since the rod or wire is to be upset between the dies, it is obvious that the gripping pressure must be in excess of the yield point of the metal from which the wires or rods are formed. Rods or wires suitable for prestressed reinforcement must have a high carbon content to give a high tensil strength so that the rods may be stressed to a relatively high degree and yet remain within the tensil strength of the metal. For example, when rods or wires of one-quarter inch diameter and having approximately .85 carbon with an ultimate tensil strength of 220,000 pounds per square inch and a yield point of about 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the ultimate strength or around 176,000 or 198,000 pounds per square inch, the gripping pressure must equal or be greater than the ultimate strength of the metal or more than 220,000 pounds per square inch, and this pressure must be effected without scoring or deformation of the portions of the rod or wire gripped in the dies.

In providing such gripping pressure, the present invention utilizes toggle mechanisms 77 for actuating each of the movable dies. The toggles each include links 78 and 79 having rounded bearing portions 80 and 81 which have rocking contact within longitudinal grooves 82 and 83 in the fixed toggle block plates 28 and a plate 84 that corresponds in shape with the movable die and which is secured thereto by fastening devices such as cap screws 85 which extend through openings 85 in the plate 84 and into threaded openings 86 of the movable dies as best shown in Fig. 7.

The toggle links are connected together by a hinge joint 87. The hinge joint includes spaced rounded heads 88 and 89 on a link engaged in sockets 90 and 91 of the other toggle link in the manner of a hinge. The connection for the links thus provides slots 92 and 93 to accommodate a head 94 on the end of a piston rod 95. The head 94 has an opening 96 therethrough which registers with the openings 96' of the links to pass a pin 97. The toggle links 78 and 79 are kept in the grooves 82 and 83 to efiect lifting of the movable dies 62 by plates 82 that are fixed to the blocks 28 and 84 with the edges thereof engaging shoulders 83' on the respective links (Figs. 5, 6, and 7).

When the parts are assembled, the piston rods extend laterally through an opening 98 of the end member 3 and an opening 99 in the ram block respectively. The rods are actuated to manipulate the toggle mechanisms 77 for actuating the dies by means of hydraulic cylinders 100 and 101. The cylinders 100 and 101 are mounted between rods 102-103 and 104105 that have their ends fixed to the end member 3 and the ram block. The outer ends of the pairs of pins are connected by cross heads 106 and 107 to which the heads of cylinders 100 and 101 are pivotally connected by pins 110 and 111 that extend through ears 112 and 113 on the cylinder heads and through openings in the respective cross heads 106 and 107. The cylinders have pistons (not shown) that are connected with rods 95.

Pressure fluid is admitted into the respective ends of the cylinders by flexible connections 114115 and 116117 as best shown in Fig. 1.

Pressure is effected in the axial direction by a cylinder 118 which actuates a cross head 119 carrying a ram 120. The cross head 119 has laterally extending arms 121 and 122 carrying sleeves 123 and 124 corresponding with the bearing sleeves on the ram block as previously described.

The arms 122 and 123 project from opposite sides of a socket member 125 having an internally threaded axial bore 126 and in which the ram 120 is mounted, the ram 120 being fixed to an externally threaded bushing 122. The socket member is slotted as at 128 and provided with ears 129 on the respective sides of the slot for passing a drawbolt 130 by which the socket may be clamped tightly about the externally threaded bushing 127 which has an axial bore 131 to contain the ram 120.

Coaxially with the socket member of the cross head and projecting therefrom is a socket-like head 132 cooperating with a retaining ring 133 to contain a thrust plate 134 having a concave face 135 receiving a convex end 136 of a head 137 on a coupling 138. The coupling 138 has threaded mounting on a cylindrical rod 139 which is mounted within a stufiing box 140 on the head 141 of the ram cylinder 118. The ram cylinder 118 also has a head 143 which is secured to the body portion of the fixed member 2 by fastening devices 144. Slidably mounted in the cylinder is a piston 145 that is connected with the rod 139. Pressure fluid is admitted into the respective ends of the cylinder through pipe connections 146 and 147 by which the piston may be reciprocated to actuate the ram for effecting upsets or nodes on the rods as now to be described.

The toggles for actuating the respective dies may be rendered selectively effective so as to simultaneously grip the rod or wire or rendered ineffective by set screws 148 and 149, threadedly mounted in the fixed and ram blocks as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

In using the machine for forming upsets or nodes on the ends of a reinforcing rod or wire A, the end of the ram 120 is adjusted relatively to the fixed dies by loosening the draw bolt 130 and turning the ram carrier in the socket member 119 in one direction or the other until the end face of the ram is in desired relation with respect to the dies, after which the bolt 130 is retightened to retain the adjustment. The nuts 73 are also adjusted on the rods 68 and 69 to give the space between the dies that may be required for an upset or node of desired diameter. The end of a wire or rod to be upset is inserted through the opening 45 until stopped by the ram 120 which in its retracted position serves as a gauge. The rod rests within the grooves 35 of the fixed dies 29 and 63. The rod is thus kept parallel with the dies and in position so that the upsets or nodes will be properly located. If two upsets or nodes B and C are to be formed on the rod, both set screws 148 and 149 are backed away from engagement by the toggle in clamping position. Fluid pressure is then admitted to the cylinders 100 and 101 to actuate the toggles and move the die blocks 36 and 62 into gripping contact with the rod or wire, suflicient pressure being effected to apply a holding or gripping force greater than the yield point of the material from which the rod or wire is formed so that the rod will not slip within the dies under the pressure required to produce the upsets or nodes. A fluid pressure is then admitted into the ram cylinder 118 to act against the piston 145 and move the ram 120 in the direction of the ram block so that the node B as shown in Fig. 8 is upset on the rod A. Simultaneously, the movable ram block is shifted toward the dies of the end member 3 to eifect the upset or node C between the die member of the respective blocks.

If only the node B is desired, the set screw 148 for the toggle mechanism for the movable die member 36 is moved inward a sufiicient distance to prevent the die 36 from exerting a clamping pressure on the rod or Wire. Therefore, when the ram is moved to effect the upset or node B, the rod or wire merely slides through the dies 29 and 36 without forming an upset or node C. If it is desired to form the upset or node C" without the formation of the node or upset B, the ram 120 is adjusted so that the end of the rod terminates at the face of the dies 62 and 63. The ends of the dies may be suitably shaped to give the desired form of the upsets or nodes. In the illustration the dies are shaped to produce conical fillets. The desired spread or diameter and thickness of the node or upsets is determined by the length of the free or unsupported portions of the rods or wires.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a machine for quickly and efficiently forming upsets or nodes on wires and rods as used in prestressing concrete structures.

I claim:

1. A machine for forming upsets in reinforcing rods or wire including, sets of gripping dies, means supporting the gripping dies in coaxial alignment for axial movement of one set to and from the other set, means for actuating the sets of dies to grip the wire or rod to be inserted therein, a ram, means supporting the ram in coaxial relation with said set of dies, means yieldably supporting the set of dies nearest the ram for movement toward the other set of dies, and power means for driving the ram into abutment with the end of the rod or wire held by the movable set of dies when the rod or wire is gripped by said dies, to effect upsets in the rod or wire between the sets of dies and between the ram and the movable set of dies.

2. A machine for forming upsets in reinforcing rods or wire including, a fixed mem'ber, gripping dies carried by the fixed member, a ram block, means supporting the ram block for movement to and from the gripping dies carried by the fixed member, gripping dies carried by the ram block in coaxial relation with the gripping dies carried by the fixed member, means for actuating the dies to grip the wire or rod to be inserted therein, a ram, means supporting the ram in coaxial relation with said dies, and power means for moving the ram to shift the ram block including the gripping dies carried thereby relatively to the fixed member for effecting an upset in the rod or wire gripped by said dies.

3. A machine for forming upsets in reinforcing rods or wire including, a fixed member, gripping dies carried by the fixed member, a ram block, means supporting the ram block for movement to and from the fixed member, gripping dies carried by the ram block in coaxial relation of the fixed member, means for actuating the dies to grip a wire or rod when inserted therein, a ram, means supporting the ram in coaxial relation with said dies, power means for moving the ram block including the gripping dies carried thereby relatively to the dies carried by the fixed member for eifecting an upset in the rod or wire between said dies, and means for rendering the die actuating means for the respective gripping dies selectively effective.

4. A machine for forming upsets in reinforcing rods including, spaced apart end members, guides connecting the end members, a ram block slidably supported on the guides, said ram block and one of the end members having rod gripping means and actuating mechanism for the gripping means, a ram, and actuating means therefor carried by the other end member and with the ram in position to apply direct axial pressure on the end of the rod engaged by the gripping means and to effect shifting movement of the ram block on the guides for forming an upset on the end of the rod or wire and in the rod or wire at a point between said gripping means.

5. A machine for forming upsets in reinforcing rods including, a frame having spaced apart end members, guides connecting the end members, a ram block slidable on the guides to and from one of the end members, said ram block and end member having recesses providing guide ways, dies having fixed support in one end of the ways, toggles having fixed support in the other ends of the ways, movable dies carried by the toggles and cooperating with the fixed dies for gripping a reinforcing rod therebetween, hydraulic means carried by said end and ram blocks and having connections with the toggles, means supporting the ram 0n the guides in coaxial relation with the dies, ram actuating means carried by the other end member and having connection with the ram to eifect axial movement of the ram relative to the ram block and the ram block relative to said one end member for eifecting an upset between the dies and between the ram and ram dies.

6. A machine for forming upsets in reinforcing rods including, a frame having spaced apart end members, guides connecting the end members, a die block slidable on the guides to and from one of the end members, said die block and end member having transverse ways, dies having fixed support in one end of the transverse ways, toggles having fixed support in the other ends of the transverse ways, movable dies slidable in said transverse ways and carried by the toggles and cooperating with the fixed dies for gripping a reinforcing rod therebetween, toggle actuating means carried by said end and ram blocks and having operative connections with the toggles, a cross head slidable on the guides, a ram carried by the cross head in coaxial relation with the dies, ram actuating means carried by the other end member and having connection with the cross head to eifect axial movement of the ram relative to the die block and the die block relative to said end member for effecting an upset between the dies and between the ram and the dies of the slidable die block.

7. A machine for forming upsets in reinforcing rods including, a frame having spaced apart end members, guides connecting the end members, a die block slidable on the guides to and from one of the end members, said die block and said one end member having transverse ways, dies having fixed support in one end of the transverse ways, toggles having fixed support in the other ends of the transverse ways, movable dies carried by the toggles and cooperating with the fixed dies for gripping a reinforcing rod therebetween, toggle actuating means carried by said end member and the die block and having operative connections with the toggles, a cross head slidable on the guides, a ram carried by the cross head in coaxial relation with the dies, a ram actuating mechanism carried by the other end member, a self-aligning connection between the cross head and the ram actuating mechanism to effect axial movement of the ram relative to the die block and the die block relative to said one end member for effecting an upset between the dies and between the ram and the dies carried by the die block.

8. A machine for forming upsets in reinforcing rods including, a frame having spaced apart end members, guides connecting the end members, a die block slidable on the guides to and from one of the end members, yielding means normally holding the die block in spaced relation with said one end member, said guide block and end member having recesses, dies having fixed support in one end of the recesses, toggles having fixed support in the other ends of the recesses, movable dies carried by the toggles and cooperating with the fixed dies for gripping a reinforcing rod therebetween, hydraulic means carried by said end and die block and having operative connections with the toggles, a cross head slidable on the guides, a ram carried by the cross head in coaxial relation with the dies, hydraulic means carried by the other end member and having connection with the cross head to effect axial movement of the ram relative to the slidable die block and the slidable die block relative to said one end member for efiecting upsets between the dies and between the ram and dies of the slidable die block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 157,512 Harding Dec. 8, 1874 989,805 Reynolds Apr. 18, 1911 1,000,122 Reynolds Aug. 8, 1911 1,841,004 Board June 3, 1925 1,721,042 Rowe July 16, 1929 2,125,220 Colwell July 26, 1938 2,302,531 Devine Nov. 17, 1942 

